Shenendehowa land sale goes to voters, again

Shenendehowa land sale goes to voters, again

The land, which is undeveloped, is off Maxwell Road, adjacent to Shatekon and Arongen elementary schools.

CLIFTON PARK — Voters will head to the polls Tuesday to decide whether the Shenendehowa Central School District can sell off a 37-acre parcel of land to the town.

The land, located off Maxwell Road, adjacent to Shatekon Elementary School, was the subject of an April referendum in which residents overwhelmingly rejected a district proposal to sell the property to BBL Construction for about $2 million. The acreage proposed for sale has increased since April — from 34 to 37.59 acres — due to an extra 3.59 acres of land that would have been retained by the school district as a buffer, had the sale to BBL been approved.

The school district has decided to include the buffer area in the sale to the town, which plans to turn the land into a town park. Under the agreement between the district and the town — and provided voters agree — the land must be preserved for public use and cannot be transferred, sold, or otherwise conveyed for non-public (commercial use).

Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Gowana Middle School gymnasium. Residents are also being asked to approve a $22 million capital project for the school district.

Eligible voters are U.S. citizens at least 18 years old who have been Shenendehowa district residents for at least 30 days. No pre-registration is required, but official photo identification is required at the polls.